Abstract: An electrophotographic image forming apparatus detachably mountable to a main assembly of the apparatus, includes a rotatable image bearing member on which a latent image is to be formed; charging means for contacting said image bearing member to charge a surface of said image bearing member; a frame supporting said image bearing member and said charging means; a covering member, demountably mounted to said frame, for protecting the surface of said image bearing member; and a spacer member including a spacing portion, movably provided on said covering member, for entering between said image bearing member and said charging means to space them therebetween, and a retaining portion, contacting said covering member when said spacing portion is not between said image bearing member and said charging means, for preventing said spacer member from disengaging from said covering member.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus to which a cartridge including an image bearing member and a frame supporting the image bearing member is detachably mountable includes a first supporting roller, a second supporting roller, a belt member for transferring a developed image formed on the image bearing member onto a recording material, and an opening to permit the cartridge to enter an inside of a main assembly of the apparatus. In addition, a first guide portion guides the cartridge through the opening from a position where at least a part of the image bearing member is in a back side, with respect to an extension plane, extending from a surface of the belt member disposed between the first and second rollers, and a second guide portion guides the cartridge to a position where the image bearing member is on a front side of the extension plane opposite to the back side and spaced from the extension plane.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a belt member for transferring a developed image formed on an image bearing member onto a recording material, and an opening provided to permit a cartridge including the image bearing member to enter inside of the image forming apparatus. In addition, a first guide portion guides the cartridge through the opening from a position where a bottom end portion of the image bearing member is below, with respect to a vertical direction, a transfer position where the image bearing member and the belt member contact each other when the cartridge is mounted, a second guide portion guides the cartridge from a position where the bottom end portion is below, with respect to the vertical direction, the transfer position to a position where the bottom end portion is above the transfer position, and a third guide portion guides the cartridge from the position where the bottom end portion is above, with respect to the vertical direction, the transfer position to the transfer position.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a belt member for transferring a developed image, an opening provided to permit a cartridge including an image bearing drum to enter a main assembly, a first guide portion for guiding the cartridge through the opening from a position where a bottom end portion of the drum is below a transfer position where the drum and the belt member contact each other when the cartridge is mounted, and a second guide portion provided downstream of the first guide portion. The second guide portion guides the cartridge to a position where the bottom end portion of the drum is above the transfer position. In addition, a third guide portion, provided downstream of the second guide portion, guides the cartridge from the position where the bottom end portion is above the transfer position to the transfer position.

Abstract: A process cartridge is detachably mountable to a main assembly of an image forming apparatus. The process cartridge includes an image bearing member, a cleaning member for removing a developer from the image bearing member, a frame provided with an opening, and a developer accommodating portion for accommodating the developer which was removed by the cleaning member and passed through the opening. A sheet member is also provided, contacting the image bearing member, for preventing the developer from leaking out of the developer accommodating portion. A supporting portion is provided to the frame, for supporting the sheet member. A reinforcing portion, provided to the frame, connecting one end side portion of the frame located upstream of the opening with the other end side portion of the frame located downstream of the opening, with respect to a rotational direction of the image bearing member.

Abstract: A cartridge detachably mountable to a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, includes an image bearing member; a frame; process means contactable to and actable on the image bearing member; a covering member detachably mounted to the frame to protect a surface of the image bearing member; and a spacing portion provided on the covering member and inserted between the image bearing member and the process means to space the image bearing member and the process means from each other, the spacing portion being movable relative to the covering member while being interposed between the image bearing member and the process means when the covering member is removed from the frame.

Abstract: An electrophotographic image forming apparatus detachably mountable to a main assembly of the apparatus, includes a rotatable image bearing member on which a latent image is to be formed; charging means for contacting said image bearing member to charge a surface of said image bearing member; a frame supporting said image bearing member and said charging means; a covering member, demountably mounted to said frame, for protecting the surface of said image bearing member; and a spacer member including a spacing portion, movably provided on said covering member, for entering between said image bearing member and said charging means to space them therebetween, and a retaining portion, contacting said covering member when said spacing portion is not between said image bearing member and said charging means, for preventing said spacer member from disengaging from said covering member.

Abstract: A drum cartridge detachably mountable to an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, which apparatus including a main assembly, and a supporting member, swingably mounted to the main assembly, for supporting a plurality of developing devices and for bringing the developing devices sequentially to a developing position by rotation thereof, the apparatus including an electrophotographic photosensitive member drum; and a detachable spacer member for moving the supporting member away from the electrophotographic photosensitive member drum by contacting to the supporting member when the drum cartridge is mounted to the main assembly.

Abstract: An electrophotographic image forming apparatus detachably mountable to a main assembly of the apparatus, includes a rotatable image bearing member on which a latent image is to be formed; charging means for contacting said image bearing member to charge a surface of said image bearing member; a frame supporting said image bearing member and said charging means; a covering member, demountably mounted to said frame, for protecting the surface of said image bearing member; and a spacer member including a spacing portion, movably provided on said covering member, for entering between said image bearing member and said charging means to space them therebetween, and a retaining portion, contacting said covering member when said spacing portion is not between said image bearing member and said charging means, for preventing said spacer member from disengaging from said covering member.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus to which a cartridge including an image bearing drum and a frame supporting the image bearing member, the apparatus includes a belt member for transferring a developed image formed on the drum onto a recording material; an opening provided to permit the cartridge to enter an inside of a main assembly; a first guide portion for guiding the cartridge through the opening from a position where a bottom end portion of the drum is below a transfer position where the drum and the belt member contact with each other when the cartridge is mounted; a second guide portion provided downstream of the first guide portion with respect to a mounting direction in which the cartridge is mounted to the main assembly, the second guide portion guiding the cartridge from a position where the bottom end portion of the drum is below the transfer position to a position where the bottom end portion of the drum is above the transfer position; and a third guide portion provided downstream of the second guide p

Abstract: An electrophotographic image forming apparatus detachably mountable to a main assembly of the apparatus, includes a rotatable image bearing member on which a latent image is to be formed; charging means for contacting said image bearing member to charge a surface of said image bearing member; a frame supporting said image bearing member and said charging means; a covering member, demountably mounted to said frame, for protecting the surface of said image bearing member; and a spacer member including a spacing portion, movably provided on said covering member, for entering between said image bearing member and said charging means to space them therebetween, and a retaining portion, contacting said covering member when said spacing portion is not between said image bearing member and said charging means, for preventing said spacer member from disengaging from said covering member.

Abstract: In a photovoltaic cell composed of a photovoltaic element and a coating film provided thereon, the photovoltaic element has an electrode portion or portions having a thickness larger than the average thickness of the coating film, and in addition, the thickness of the coating film which is in contact with the electrode portion or portions is equal to or smaller than the average thickness described above.

Abstract: A process cartridge detachably mountable to a main assembly of an image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member; a cleaning member for removing a developer from the image bearing member; a frame provided with an opening; a developer accommodating portion for accommodating the developer which was removed by the cleaning member and has passed through the opening; a sheet member, contacting the image bearing member, for preventing the developer from leaking out of the developer accommodating portion; a supporting portion, provided to the frame, for supporting the sheet member; a reinforcing portion, provided to the frame, connecting a one end-side portion of the frame located upstream of the opening with the other end-side portion of the frame located downstream of the opening, with respect to a rotational direction of the image bearing member; and a space, provided downstream of the reinforcing portion with respect to a direction from the opening toward the developer accommodating portion, for permit

Abstract: A drum cartridge detachably mountable to an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, which apparatus including a main assembly, and a supporting member, swingably mounted to the main assembly, for supporting a plurality of developing devices and for bring the developing devices sequentially to a developing position by rotation thereof, the apparatus comprising: an electrophotographic photosensitive member drum; and a detachable spacer member for moving the supporting member away from the electrophotographic photosensitive member drum by contacting to the supporting member when the drum cartridge is mounted to the main assembly.

Abstract: A cartridge detachably mountable to a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, includes an image bearing member; a frame; process means contactable to and actable on the image bearing member; a covering member detachably mounted to the frame to protect a surface of the image bearing member; and a spacing portion provided on the covering member and inserted between the image bearing member and the process means to space the image bearing member and the process means from each other, the spacing portion being movable relative to the covering member while being interposed between the image bearing member and the process means when the covering member is removed from the frame.

Abstract: A thermal contact-bonding method employs a thermal contact-bonding apparatus including at least a hot plate, an upper chamber, and a resin sheet provided at a lower portion of the upper chamber. The method includes the steps of pressing the upper chamber against the hot plate, while at least a part of a surface of the hot plate is separated from the resin sheet, to be in a stand-by state of the thermal contact-bonding apparatus, for a time of not charging a material to be processed, charging the material to be processed between the resin sheet and the hot plate, and subjecting the material to be processed to a thermal contact-bonding processing by making a space between the resin sheet and the hot plate under a vacuum state.

Abstract: A photovoltaic element is provided which has at least a photovoltaic layer and a transparent electrode layer deposited on a metal substrate, a portion of the transparent electrode layer being continuously removed at a peripheral part of the metal substrate, wherein an island-shaped transparent-electrode-layer-removed-portion is provided in the transparent electrode layer in a power-generating region surrounded by the removed portion of the transparent electrode layer, a rear surface side bus-bar electrode electrically connected to the metal substrate is disposed on the rear surface side of the metal substrate at the rear of the island-shaped transparent-electrode-layer-removed-portion, and the rear surface side bus-bar electrode is connected to the metal substrate at a portion corresponding to the island-shaped transparent-electrode-layer-removed-portion, and which can enhance the degree of freedom for the shape of a photovoltaic element module while ensuring the reliability of the photovoltaic element.

Abstract: Before electrically connecting at least two photovoltaic elements, a medium capable of absorbing at least 10% or more of a light having a wavelength of 0.4 ?m to 2.0 ?m is provided on an electric connection portion of the photovoltaic element, whereby the present invention provides a method of electrically connecting a group of photovoltaic elements to one another with a high yield and easy automatization.

Abstract: The method of the present invention is a thermal contact-bonding method employing a thermal contact-bonding apparatus including at least a hot plate, an upper chamber, and a resin sheet provided at a lower portion of the upper chamber, the method including the steps of: pressing the upper chamber against the hot plate, while at least a part of a surface of the hot plate is separated from the resin sheet, to be in a stand-by state of the thermal contact-bonding apparatus, for a time of not charging a material to be processed; charging the material to be processed between the resin sheet and the hot plate; and subjecting the material to be processed to a thermal contact-bonding processing by making a space between the resin sheet and the hot plate under a vacuum state. Thus, the present invention provides a method and an apparatus for thermally contact-bonding a surface of the material to be processed in a clean state.

Abstract: A mounting structure for mounting a photovoltaic element onto a metal body, which outputs a power generated by the photovoltaic element to the outside surface, and a method for mounting the photovoltaic element. In the mounting structure, the metal body has a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface, in which the photovoltaic element is joined to the first surface and an electrically insulative material is joined to the second surface. A semiconductor element-mounting substrate for mounting a semiconductor element thereon comprising a retaining substrate having a circuit pattern, which has an electrode-joining portion for joining the semiconductor element electrode portion, an external terminal-fixing portion, and a groove between the electrode-joining portion and external-fixing portion, and a method for mounting the semiconductor element. In the mounting substrate, the electrode-joining portion is larger than the semiconductor element electrode portion.